Caesar Wrap-Up

Today’s Checklist

Take up Act V QuestionsBrief note on Act VAct V Quiz Poetry Introduction

Chronology of Act V

1. Brutus and Cassius meet during the battle of Philippi and discuss its outcome. Suicide comes to their mind even though Brutus is a stoic.

2. Noting a weakness in Octavius’ ranks, Brutus sends a message to Cassius that he should have his men attack the forces of Antony.

3. From a hilltop, Cassius and his slave Pindarus see a group of horsemen approaching. Titinius is sent to discover whether they are friend or foe. He is surrounded and apparently taken by the enemy.

4. Cassius orders his slave, Pindarus, to kill him in exchange for his own freedom.

5. When Titinius and Brutus’ men enter to give Cassius the victory wreath, they find him dead, the victim of a mistaken conclusion. The grief stricken Titinius places the wreath on the corpse and kills himself. Brutus enters, finds the two men dead, and mournfully orders the battle continued.

6. Brutus realizes that defeat is inevitable. He begs his associates to kill him, but they refuse.

7. Strato, Brutus’ slave, holds the sword, and Brutus runs upon it. His last thought is that Caesar is avenged.

8. Octavius and Antony arrive, and Antony praises Brutus as “the noblest Roman of them all.”

Act V, scene i

1. Where does the scene take place?

It takes place on the plains of Philippi. 2. What do Brutus and Cassius do?

Brutus and Cassius arrive at the head of their army. They argue over how they will act if they lose this battle. They say a dramatic farewell to one another, and prepare for battle.

Act V, scene iii

3. How does Cassius die? Cassius’ army has been surrounded. He tells Pindarus to take

the sword with which he killed Caesar, and stab him with it.

4. How does Pindarus earn his freedom?Cassius orders him to kill him in exchange for his freedom. He

runs away after assisting Cassius in his death.

5. What happens to Titinius?Titinius returns to Cassius with a wreath of laurels (a sign of

victory) on his head. He finds Cassius dead and sees that he has “misconstrued” everything. Titinius then takes his own life.

Act V, scene iv

6. How does Brutus die?Brutus arrives with stragglers from his defeated army. Brutus

convinces Strato to hold a sword while he impales himself on it.

7. What do Antony and Octavius say about Brutus?Antony states, "This was the noblest Roman of them all"

(5.5.67). He believes that of all the conspirators only Brutus believed

that he was killing Caesar to uphold the Roman Republic; the others were simply jealous and power hungry.

8. Who wins and becomes ruler of Rome?Octavius (Julius Caesar’s nephew) emerges as the new ruler.

Question for further thought

What is said and done in Act V that supports the comment: Brutus' and Cassius' defeat is revenge for Caesar’s murder?

Act V Analysis

Power shift - Antony to OctaviusSignified through the use of namesReferred to as “young Octavius” until his

challenges Antony Antony replies to Octavius, "No, Caesar,

we will answer on their charge" (5.1.24)For the rest of the play, he is “Caesar”

OmensAct I omens reappear Cassius speaks of the noble eagles

being replaced by kites and ravens (a bad sign)

His interpretation is that he will lose the battle, and he remarks, "Our army lies ready to give the ghost" (5.1.88)

The ghost Caesar, whose presence and memory is the reason for battle

Caesar’s ghost Caesar’s spirit dominates in the battleCassius’ last words are, "Caesar, thou

art revenged, / Even with the sword that killed thee" (5.3.44-45)

Brutus also invokes the image of CaesarAs he commits suicide he again mentions

Caesar, saying, "Caesar, now be still. / I killed not thee with half so good a will." (5.5.50-51)

Brutus’ tragedy Brutus seemed eager to achieve power But he is the only conspirator to maintain his

humanity and dignity He stands as a symbol of honor Contrast to the dishonorable Cassius who lies,

manipulates, and wishes to take bribes Brutus would never have killed Caesar except to

defend the Roman Republic Antony: "his life was gentle, and the elements / So

mixed in him that nature might stand up / And say to all the world 'This was a man'" (5.5.74)

Translation

Translation - Act V

Act V Quiz – Take-Up

1. A

2. D

3. D

4. B

5. D

6. B

7. A

Quotation Identification

1. Cassius

2. Brutus

3. Octavius

Introduction to PoetryIntroduction to Poetry

What is poetry? Is it more than words

on a page? This Charlie Brown

comic strip contains a Haiku (a type of poem)!

Word searchWord search

Find a selection of words that relate to you

These could be words that represent what you Value Like Enjoy doing Fear Dream of doing in the

future

You will find that you avoid using words like “a”, “the”, “and”, etc.

You will then create a poem using the words that you find

You are trying to say something using as few words as possible